10 Incredible Facts about Diamonds

Diamonds are the birthstone for the month of April, which means that the lucky ladies born in April can ask for these gorgeous gemstones as birthday presents !

We’ve put together 10 interesting facts and bits of knowledge about diamonds:

Diamonds are billions of years old—in some cases more than three billion years old.

The ancient Romans and Greeks believed that diamonds were tears cried by the gods or splinters from falling stars, and Romans believed that Cupid’s arrows were tipped with diamonds (perhaps the earliest association between diamonds and romantic love).

Diamonds form about 100 miles below ground and have been carried to the earth’s surface by deep volcanic eruptions.

Diamonds are made of a single element—they’re nearly 100% carbon. Under the immense heat and pressure far below the earth’s surface, the carbon atoms bond in a unique way that results in diamonds’ beautiful and rare crystalline structure.

The word diamond derives from the Greek word “adamas,” which means invincible or indestructible.

Diamonds are the very hardest natural substance. The only thing that can scratch a diamond is another diamond.

During the Middle Ages diamonds were thought to have healing properties able to cure ailments ranging from mental illness to fatigue

The largest diamond ever discovered was called the Cullinan diamond, and weighed in at an incredible 3106 carats, or 603 grams. Discovered in 1905 in South Africa, the mine’s owner and the South African leaders gave the diamond to King Edward. The Cullinan was eventually cut into nine large diamonds and 100 smaller ones, and the three largest of these are on display in the Tower of London as part of the crown jewels.

The first known use of a diamond engagement ring took place in 1477, when Archduke Maxmillian of Austria gave Mary of Burgundy a gold ring featuring an M spelled out in diamonds.

Now for the most incredible fact of all – Scientists have discovered a planet that they believe is composed mostly of carbon, and is one-third pure diamond! Discovered in 2004, the planet orbits a nearby star in the Milky Way, and is named “55 Cancri e”. This planet is what’s known as a super-Earth because it is likely a rocky world orbiting a sun-like star, but it has a radius twice as large as that of our own planet, and a mass eight times greater. The hot planet also races around its star at such a close distance that one year lasts just 18 hours!